Sociolgy 386 - African Americans in Society
This course is intended as a survey of the history, social structure, and cultural characteristics of African Americans. As a sociologist and demographer, my goal is to teach you to use a sociological perspective and analytical skills to understand the relations between African Americans and the larger American society. We will cover some historical background, but our main focus will be on contemporary issues facing African Americans today. We will cover such topics as: the meaning of race; the significance of the word "nigger"; the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights Movement; prejudice and discrimination; racial loyalty and solidarity; modes of inequality, such as education, family, the economy, and segregation; and solutions to current and historical inequality, such as affirmative action and reparations.
I believe that knowledge transfers in many ways, not just from teacher to student. As a result, discussion is an integral part of the classroom experience. I expect every student in this class to take an active role in his or her education. I will provide information, ask pointed questions, facilitate the search for alternative opinions, and act as a friendly devil's advocate. The emphasis is not on what is "right" or "wrong", but on developing well-informed opinions while taking into account sociological information, institutional rules, and opposing opinions and their rationales.